Top 10 Live Action Family Movies for Valentine's Day

“Nanny McPhee”(2005, PG, 97min) and “Nanny McPhee Returns” (2010, PG, 109min) stars Emma Thompson as Nanny McPhee, a magical nanny with lessons to teach the children in her care. The more they learn, the prettier she becomes. In both movies, two single, loving, but struggling parents with unruly children learn what it means to be a family.“Yours, Mine, & Ours” (2005, PG, 90min) is about a blended family coming together, no matter how big or rowdy. Starring Dennis Quaid, Rene Russo, and a 18 children, it’s a laugh-out-loud movie for the entire family.“Annie” (1982, PG, 127min) is another classic musical about a little orphan named Annie (Aileen Quinn) and her quest to find her family that leads her to Daddy Warbucks (Albert Finney). This movie brings themes of having a positive outlook, never giving up on family, finding your family in the people who love you (among friends and adoptive family members).View the list »
“The Sound of Music” (1965, Approved, 174min) is a classic musical made for the entire family. Maria (Julie Andrews) leaves an Austrian convent to become a governess to the children of Captain Von Trapp (Christopher Plummer), and she brings music and love back into their lives. With themes of healing and reconnecting as a family, this is a great movie for everyone to enjoy.

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Love is not just about romance or couples. Love is for everyone including families. Perhaps, you are spending your Valentine’s Day with your family. Make it a family movie night! Pop some popcorn and get comfy next to each other on the couch. Here are my top 10 picks of live action movies that celebrate one or more aspects of family and love. You can also use these movies as starting points of discussion. They depict different kinds of families (blended, adopted, big, and small) with different personalities and challenges. There are themes of friendship, protecting each other, working together, miracles, accepting and understanding each, and so much more. Of course, it all comes back to love. Share a movie, share your time, and share your love!

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  • “The Sound of Music” (1965, Approved, 174min) is a classic musical made for the entire family. Maria (Julie Andrews) leaves an Austrian convent to become a governess to the children of Captain Von Trapp (Christopher Plummer), and she brings music and love back into their lives. With themes of healing and reconnecting as a family, this is a great movie for everyone to enjoy.
  • “Annie” (1982, PG, 127min) is another classic musical about a little orphan named Annie (Aileen Quinn) and her quest to find her family that leads her to Daddy Warbucks (Albert Finney). This movie brings themes of having a positive outlook, never giving up on family, finding your family in the people who love you (among friends and adoptive family members).
  • “Yours, Mine, & Ours” (2005, PG, 90min) is about a blended family coming together, no matter how big or rowdy. Starring Dennis Quaid, Rene Russo, and a 18 children, it’s a laugh-out-loud movie for the entire family.
  • “Nanny McPhee”(2005, PG, 97min) and “Nanny McPhee Returns” (2010, PG, 109min) stars Emma Thompson as Nanny McPhee, a magical nanny with lessons to teach the children in her care. The more they learn, the prettier she becomes. In both movies, two single, loving, but struggling parents with unruly children learn what it means to be a family.
  • “Cheaper by the Dozen” (2003, PG, 98min) and “Cheaper by the Dozen 2” (2005, PG, 94min) stars Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt as the heads of the Baker family. The children have very different personalities going through different milestones in life. In both hilarious movies, they all learn that family is about give and take, helping each other, understanding each other, and loving each other no matter what comes their way.
  • “The Odd Life of Timothy Green” (2012, PG, 105min) reminds us about the magic and miracle of family. When Jim and Cindy Green (Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Garner) buries a box filled with their wishes for an ideal child in their garden, a little boy appears in their lives and he’s about to change their lives forever.
  • “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island” (2012, PG, 94min) is an adventure and comedy movie about Sean’s (Josh Hutcherson) hunt for his grandfather. Joined by his stepdad Hank (Dwayn Johnson), the tour guide Gabato (Luis Guzman), and his daughter Kailani (Vanessa Hudgens), this movie explores the relationships between different family members and the risks and lengths they will go through for each other.
  • “Seventeen Again” (2000, TV Movie, 97min) stars Tia, Tamera, and Tahj Mowry in a movie about family reconciliation among the grandparents. When Willie (Tahj Mowry) invents a formula that turned his grandparents 17 years old, it’s up to him and his sister Sydney (Tia Mowry-Hardrict) to turn them back before time runs out.
  • “The Spy Next Door” (2010, PG, 94min) stars Jackie Chan as Bob Ho, the secret spy and nerdy neighbor/boyfriend of Gillian (Amber Valletta). He ends up taking care of her three defiant children. This movie reminds us that family can be made up of different people, and that love means protecting them at all costs.
  • “Kit Kittredge: An American Girl” (2008, G, 101min) is about Kit (Abigail Breslin) and her family’s struggles during the Great Depression. With her dad gone to look for a job and her mother struggling with resources, this movie reminds us that families stick together through the tough times.
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, San Jose Movie Examiner

Angela Sangalang is a freelance writer and avid movie goer that embraces the fluff and the light-hearted.

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